Marlene Cox-Bishop
My Irish great grandfather, William Todd generations ago was Hudson Bay Company surgeon/chief trader. His Metis wife, Elizabeth Dennet was born at York Factory. Their descendantslive in St. Francis Xavier/White Plains and western provinces, including B.C.
Currently President of the South Okanagan Similkameen Metis Association, I attended UBC (BEd), Cranbrook Academy of Art (Michigan/MFA), and Illinois State University (Doctorate/ Education/Anthropology/Fine Arts). My research was with Inuit of Baker Lake and Rankin Inlet.
l have administrativeand teaching skillswith experience withwomen’s cultural safety and urban outreach; proposal writing; andArts for Health and Healing (Certification/The Society for the Arts for People with Cancer, New York).
I am a practising Métis artist with knowledge of Metis teachings, Aboriginal beading, Metis history, traditional cooking, genealogical tracking and the Medicine Wheel. I studied with Robert Kakakaway & Associates/the meaning of the Medicine Wheel. I hold Certification in Drum Circle Facilitation (Atkinson/Calgary). I am a skilled speaker and workshop leader with proficiency in grant writingand programs such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Photoshop.
I have workedwith Penticton MCFD and #67 School District and made school presentations. Last year, I taught a course in Metis history at Okanagan College/Penticton. Between 2009-2012 I was employed by Ooknakane Friendship Centreas an instructor of Traditional Aboriginal Cooking and as the ROOTs worker completing genealogical histories for Aboriginal foster children. I also host an Aboriginal Women’s Beading Group. I sit on the Aboriginal Partnership Committee and the Aboriginal Education Committee for SD #67.
My vision for Metis women is to Empower, Educate and Encourage. I support Metis Women and theirfamilies and am able to offer assistance solving family violence and addictions/incarcerationproblems. I am prepared to offer skills and literacy training and support. Thanks for considering me for Provincial Women’s Chair.